Monday 31 March 2008

Hundreds flock to Women’s Expo


Kari Lucin Worthington Daily Globe

WORTHINGTON — More than 500 people attended the first-ever Daily Globe Women’s Expo Home & Health Show Saturday, sampling treats, checking out local health services, watching cooking and health seminars and browsing the 58 booths for purses and jewelry of every possible variety.

“I’m loving it — the interaction and all the opportunities to learn about health,” said Sue Ellen Bone of Worthington, who spent several hours at the Expo. “I had my cholesterol checked and ate more and probably got it (increased).” Although women were greatly in the majority at the Expo, the few men in attendance also appeared to enjoy themselves, chatting and scanning the booths for information and goodies just like the women were. “It’s a nice position to be in,” joked Pete Danielson of Lake Park, Iowa, who staffed the Great Lakes Countertops and Kitchens booth. “We’ve had a number of interested people who find out how many choices (for countertops) there really are.”

Children also had a good time, from the babies valiantly gumming at Schwan’s chocolate chip cookies to the older kids trying out candy or having their nails done. “So far, everything looks good,” said Carter Ryan, 8, who attends St. John’s Lutheran School in Okabena. “I think it’s pretty nice.” Ryan liked the fire safety booth from T&M Safety Systems best, though he also liked the goodies being given away at the Globe’s booth — mini-flashlights and recipe card holders. Other booth favors available included Sanford Clinic’s balloons and water bottles, the Medicine Shoppe’s candies and fans — for use during hot flashes — and Knology’s stress balls and magnetic pens.

Benson Funeral Home offered free root beer floats at its booth while encouraging people to plan their funerals ahead of time. “We just want to reach out to the community,” said Benson booth staffer Ben Pawlitschek, a pre-arrangement consultant.

Several booths offered manicure and massage services.

Rachel Ponto of Worthington, who sells BeautiControl products, offered Expo-goers instant manicures using an herbal aromatherapy mixture of Dead Sea salt and scented oils.

“It feels very smooth,” said Deb Harberts of Reading, who tried out the instant manicure. “It feels like it has exfoliated everything.”

A line started to form around Deb’s Healing Massage and Day Spa as people waited for massages and manicures. Minnesota West Community and Technical College’s booth also offered manicures.

Visitors with a sweet tooth had many options, from the Schwan’s cookies, ice cream bars and cinnamon rolls to the various types of mixed candy at almost every booth to the Farley’s and Sathers booth. “They like the candy. And we like the people who like the candy,” said Farley’s and Sathers marketer Michelle Scheepstra with a smile. All the treats may have skewed the results of people’s free blood sugar tests from Worthington Regional Hospital.

They may also have taken the edge off any hunger pangs resulting from watching presentations by Sue Doeden, the Globe’s food columnist. Doeden presented “Wake Up and Smell the Breakfast,” “Hot Stuff That Will Keep You Cool in the Kitchen” and “Fast and Flavorful Desserts,” demonstrating not only how to make specific dishes, but also some general chopping and knife-sharpening techniques and kitchen tips and tricks.

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